Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Kwame Kilpatrick taken into custody by police: Kwame Kilpatrick is driven out of the federal courthouse after being convicted on robbery, bribery and extotion charges. Regina H. Boone/Detroit Free Press,

'Kilpatrick Enterprise' trial coverage

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, his father, Bernard Kilpatrick, and his longtime contractor friend Bobby Ferguson were convicted in U.S. District Court in Detroit. They were accused in a conspiracy to enrich themselves by rigging City of Detroit contracts through the mayor's office. Kwame Kilpatrick was convicted on 24 of 30 counts, Ferguson was found guilty on nine of 11 counts and Bernard Kilpatrick was convicted on one of four counts. A fourth defendant, former water department director Victor Mercado, pleaded guilty to conspiracy during the trial and awaits sentencing.

Carlita Kilpatrick got a job working for the city of Duncanville, Texas, raising the ire of some residents in the Dallas suburb of 38,000 people.

Kilpatrick, wife of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick -- who was convicted this week of federal public corruption crimes -- has never been charged or convicted of any crimes herself.

She's working at the Duncanville Fieldhouse, an athletic facility with basketball courts, a fitness center and meeting rooms.

Duncanville’s public information officer Claudia Garibay said that Kilpatrick’s title is field house specialist, and her duties include organizing and scheduling sporting events, such as basketball and volleyball tournaments. She also helps oversee the facility’s daily operations.

She has been working there since Jan. 14 and makes $41,200, Garibay said.

Stan Smith, who is running for City Council in an upcoming election in Duncanville, said Kilpatrick has been working there for about three months. The family moved to Texas after Kwame Kilpatrick left office in 2008.

Residents Jeff and Cindy Jones said they've attended several council meetings where a group of residents has raised concerns about her hire. They said she helps run the field house operations.

"It's very concerning to us," said Cindy Jones. "Her husband's activity is very concerning."

The Duncanvillevoice, a blog critical of city government that has questioned the hiring of Carlita Kilpatrick, published an angry letter from a local citizen referencing Kwame Kilpatrick's lavish lifestyle and text messages that came out in the 2008 text message scandal.

Duncanville City Manager Greg Contreras did not return calls.

A Michigan Corrections Department official said Kwame Kilpatrick was not required to disclose his wife’s employment.

“There is nothing about his wife working or becoming employed that in any way would be a violation of his parole,” said Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan.